Locally trained Too High Tek steps up to the plate on Sunday for his second attempt at winning the $30,000 Kinghorn Motor Group Nowra Cup (1600m).
Last year Too High Tek had to settle for second behind stablemate Ramsays Curse in a race trainer Robert Price considered him unlucky not to turn the tables.
“I thought he was a shade unlucky last year,” Price said. “Hopefully he can go one better this time.
“I’ve got no doubt he’s the best horse in the race. He’s just got to have a bit of luck and be hard to beat.”
Price is no stranger to winning his home town cup, Ramsays Curse his third home town cup win after Gunna Happen scored in 2008 and 2011.
Since the retirement of Gunna Happen, Too Hight Tek has been Price’s stable stalwart with six wins and 13 placing’s from 46 starts earning $218,910 prizemoney.
Too High Tek, a six-year-old by Over, is raced by owner-breeders the Dickerson family - Sam and Cathy and Robert and Jenny.
Price is the only local trainer with a runner in the 15-horse field, Moruya-trained Zuccherina declared a non-starter, instead lining up at Randwick on Saturday. Stablemate Quichang however, will do battle with Too High Tek.
Too High Tek is coming off a last start 3.9 lengths fourth to the Chris Waller-trained Trade Commissioner in the Lsited Wagga Cup (2000m) on May 2 when he was away tardily but ran on steadily to just miss a placing.
Previously Too High Tek was runner-up to Faust over 1800m at Wagga on April 13.
“I’ve been really happy with him,” Price said. “Under the circumstances his run in the Wagga Cup was terrific.
“His work’s been good and he’s a horse that likes the sting out of the ground which he should get on Sunday.
“His only bad run this campaign was at the Kensington track at Randwick (March 26) when he pulled up with bruised heels.
“We addressed that. He’s a horse that spends a lot of time standing in the ice bucket. That is offset with a lot of swimming.
“I’d say he’s in much the same vein as last year. I’m happy with him and from the good barrier (two) hopefully he can race around mid-field.”
